16" cube ideas

[mr_alberta]

i dont have to put 3 holes in the overflow do i?

While you don't need 3, you need at least 1 hole for a drain. It all depends on what you want to do and the size of your pumps.

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so then basicly an overfolw is just a glass/acrlyc box with a hole drilled in the bottom attached to the back of the tank
you attach this with silicone/glue or does it hang on the back?
[quote]

If you tank is made of glass, then I would use glass for your overflow box. If it is acrylic, then use acrylic. The reason is silicone does not stick to acrylic. The overflow box is just a glass box siliconed onto the back pane of glass. You will only need 4 pieces of glass to make the overflow box.

now, is it better to have the holes in the bottom or on the back?

Again, this is personal preference. Some like returns coming from the back, others from the bottom. I personally like returns on the bottom because they are easier to hide. The drawback is you should only use bottom returns on closed loops so you don't drain your tank and flood your house in case of a power outtage. You also have to be more careful about weight distribution along the bottom of you tank and creating pressure points on the glass.